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Apocrypha. 34 But he mocked them, and laughed at them, and f abused them shamefully, and spake proudly,

35 Andswarein his wrath, saying, Unless Judas and his host be now delivered into my hands, if ever I come again -f* in safety, I will burn up this house : and with that he went out in a great rage.

36 Then the priests entered in, and stood before the altar and the temple, weeping, and faying,

37 Thou, O Lord, didst choose this house to be called by thy name, and to be a house of prayer and petition for thy people :

38 Be avenged of this man and his host, and let them still by the sword : remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any longer.

39 So Nicanor went out of Jerusalem, and pitched his tents in Bethhoron, where an host out of Syria met him.

40 But Judas pitched in Adasa with three thousand men, and there he prayed, saying,

4.1 c O Lord, when they that were sent 1rai.V7.36. from the king of the Assyrians blasphem- Ecci°'48. ed} thine angel went out, and smote an hundred fourscore and five thousand of them.

42 Even so destroy thou this host before •us this day, that the rest may know that he hath spoken blasphemously against thy sanctuary, and judge thou him according to his wickedness.

43 So the thirteenth day of the month Adar the hosts joined battle: but Nicanor's host was discomfited, and he himself was first slain in the battle.

44 Now when Nicanor's host saw that he was slain, they cast away their weapons, and sled.

45 Then || they pursued after them a day's journey, from Adasa unto Gazera, sounding an alarm after them with their trumpets.

46 Whereupon they came forth out of all the towns of Judea round about, and closed them in ; so that they, turning back upon them that pursued them, were all slain with the sword, and not one of them was left.

47 Afterwards they took the spoils, and the prey, and smote off Nicanor's head, and his right hand, which he stretched out so proudly, and brought them away, and hanged them up toward Jerusalem.

48 For this cause the people rejoiced greatly, and they kept that day a day of great gladness.

49 Moreover f they ordained to keep CHR°r|r yearly this day, being the thirteenth of cir. 161. Adar.

50 Thus s the land of Juda was in rest gii,',^, a little while.

OW Judas had heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were mighty and valiant men, and such as would lovingly accept all that joined themselves unto them, and make a league of amity with all that came unto them ;

2 And that they were men of great valour. It was told him also of their wars and noble acts which they had done among the || Galatians, and how they had °£cbmeH conquered them, and brought them under tribute ;

3 And what they had done in the country of Spain, for the winning of the mines of the silver and gold which is there ;

4 And that by their policy and patience they had conquered || all the place, though it were very far from them ; and the kings place. also that came against them from the uttermost part of the earth, till they had discomfited them, and given them a* great overthrow, so that the rest did give them tribute every year :

c Beside this, how they had discomfited in battle Philip, and Perseus, king of the II Citims, with others that lifted up them- II Or, Ms- selves against them, and had overcome ctdomans- them :

6 How also Antiochus the great king of Asia, that came against them in battle, having an hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was discomfited by them j

7 And how they took him alive, and covenanted that he and such as reigned after him should pay a great tribute, and give hostages, and that which was agreed upon,

8 And the country of India, and Media, and Lydia, and of the goodliest countries, which they took of him, and gave to king Eumenes :

9 Moreover how the Grecians had de termined to come and destroy them ;

10 And that they, having knowledge thereof, sent against them a certain captain, and fighting with them slew many of them, and carried away captives their wives and their children, and spoiled them, and took possession of their lands, and